Fisherman tries to keep Darby Creek clean

CLIFTON HEIGHTS >> Bob McGonigle has been fishing since he was five years old.

McGonigle lives it in Morton now, but during fishing season he can’t stay away from the Darby Creek.

“I grew up along the creek. I always come back to where I started fishing,” said McGonigle.

Growing up along the creek, he learned about its ecology and decided do something about it.

“In the early ‘60s the carp were dead, scads of them. The creek was like a sewer. You can tell how clean the water is by how many fish are in the water and how many different kinds of insects are around. That’s how you can tell how healthy the creek is,” said McGonigle.

“It became much better with the Clean Water Act,” said McGonigle.

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948 was the first major U.S. law to address water pollution. Growing public awareness and concern for controlling water pollution led to sweeping to amendments in 1972. The law is commonly referred to as the Clean Water Act.

Being ecologically minded, McGonigle found discarded plastics like detergent bottle caps and bottles and created bait holders in all different sizes that fishers can attach to their clothing as they fish. Some have funny sayings and honor Philly teams like the Eagles, Flyers and the Phillies.

“You can collect crickets in this one or feed your reptiles in this one,” said McGonigle showing off one with a pointed brown bottle and a small cap.

McGonigle has caught lots of his day.

“I think I fish in

have caught everything that swims in this creek, once a four-pound trout, which is a large fish in this creek, and a large mouth bass in New Jersey,” he said.

ANNE NEBORAK – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Patrick McGinnis of Drexel Hill is teaching to fish at Darby Creek in Clifton Heights. his daughter, Melanie, 5, and son, Thomas, how

ANNE NEBORAK – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Bob McGonigle of Morton shows off his bait holders, which he created from recycled materials to keep the streams clean.

ANNE NEBORAK – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA A woman fishes at Darby Creek in Clifton Heights on opening day of fishing season, Saturday.

ANNE NEBORAK – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Zachary Lott, 12, of Aldan, is content waiting to catch his first fish along Darby Creek in Clifton Heights.

ANNE NEBORAK – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Bob McGonigle of Morton shows off one of his bait holders, which he created from recycled materials to keep the streams clean.